Kansas Jayhawks Football: Top Sixteen All-Time in Rushing Yards
By Joel Wagler
Kansas Jayhawks All-Time Rushing Yards Leaders Number Six: Gale Sayers
The most famous player in Kansas Jayhawks football history has to be Gale Sayers. The Kansas Comet played in a much different era of college football than we know today. While his total career stats don’t look that impressive at first glance, when you look at his national rankings, you will know how special he was.
Keep in mind freshmen weren’t eligible to play in the days of Riggins and Sayers.
- Rushing Yards – 2,675
- Carries – 412
- Rushing Touchdowns – 18
- Yards per Cary – 6.5
- Total Yards from Scrimmage – 3,073
- Total Touchdowns – 19
He also threw 21 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown in his years at Kansas.
Sayers was a consensus All-American in 1963 and 1964. He was third in the nation in rushing in 1962 and 1963. He also led the Big 8 Conference those years. His 7.1 average per carry in 1962 led the nation, and his 6.9 average was third in 1963.
As great as a collegian as he was, he made his mark as an NFL player for the Chicago Bears. He made the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite seeing action in just seven seasons This includes him playing in just two games in each of his final two seasons.
In all, Sayers only played in 68 total games, barely the equivalent of 4.25 seasons now. He was a Pro-Bowl selection four times and was a First-Team All-Pro player five times.
He led the NFL in rushing twice, in 1966 and 1969. He finished in the top five his other three seasons before injuries held him to four games over his last two years. This included finished fifth in the NFL in rushing in 1968 with 856 yards in just nine games.
His pro stats, mainly compiled in just five seasons are incredible. He also threw 18 passes as a professional, completing four.
- Rushing Yards – 4,956
- Rushing Touchdowns – 39
- Yards per carry – 5.0
- Receiving Yards – 1,307
- Receiving Touchdowns – 9
- Yards per Reception – 11.7
- Punt Return Yards – 391
- Punt Return Touchdowns – 2
- Punt Return Average – 14.5
- Kick Return Yards – 2,781
- Kick Return Touchdowns – 6
- Kick Return Average – 30.6
If you are keeping track, that is 9,435 total yards in 68 games (138.8 a game). He also scored 56 touchdowns and threw for one more.
Just incredible.
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